idea Set Preferences for Locate Tool in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Set Preferences for Locate Tool

KellyKoenig — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:55:35 GMT

Currently, when you're using the "Layer Search" feature of the Locate tool, it defaults to "Match Exact." I typically want to use the "Match any part" option because I am more likely to remember a fragment of a feature's name than the exact punctuation, capitalization, etc., but I often forget to change the default setting before searching and I get no results returned on my first try.

It would be great if you could change the default options in the preferences, or if Pro could remember your previous selection in the same local temp file that determines the layout of all of your windows/panes.

Locate Tool - Layer Search options

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

LaurenLee — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:03:04 GMT

It would also be great to set specific layer preferences (i.e. if you are often searching for a Parcel Number attribute in a Tax Parcel layer)

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

GIS-Chops — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 17:19:54 GMT

I would take advantage of creating a "locate provider" on the Locate tab instead of using the Layer Search tab. It sticks with the project and you can specify the fields that the provider will search and whether it should contain the search text or match exactly.

I did a video about the locate tool that describes setting up a locate provider here - https://youtu.be/DGBtMEtp-Z0

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

ShanaBritt — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 17:29:56 GMT

There is an option to configure specific fields in specific layers that is stored in the project called 'Locate configured features or records'. Configuring records in a table was added to Pro 2.8. Is this option not feasible for your work? The configured layers are maintained when the map is shared as a webmap to ArcGIS Online or Enterprise portal and can be used for searching as described here, https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-online/create-maps/configure-search-in-apps.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_5831AD4A964741D39BF59119B9573B2E

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

KellyKoenig — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 18:56:45 GMT

@GIS-Chops & @ShanaBritt - Thank you for those suggestions! And apologies for the delay in replying.

Those are great options for ongoing projects and maps that are getting shared online. My workflows involve starting blank projects quite often, so I am hoping for an option that will allow the "match any part" choice to persist across all existing and new projects.

Set ArcGIS Pro Locate Feature Layer to Default Layer and Field

SheriNorton — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:19:57 GMT

Our staff use the Locate dialog - Search Layers, but would a way to set a default layer and field (since they're always trying to find parcel numbers in a tax map layer). Can this be done?

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

ShanaBritt — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:10:01 GMT

@SheriNorton Is creating a locator to search for the parcel number not an option for your organization?You could use the Create Locator tool with the Parcel or POI role or Create feature Locator to build a locator that is saved with the project or published as a service and added as a utility service to the active portal ArcGIS Pro is connected to. Adding it as a utility service means it will be available to everyone that has privileges to the service when signed into the portal.

Another option is to configure the parcel layer for search as a locate provider and create a project template from the project that references the parcel layer.

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

stempelon — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 22:18:37 GMT

Being able to use search by any part as a default would save a lot of time.

I know there are ways to get around this, but why should we need to.

Keep search parameters and criteria maintained between pro sessions in the Locate Dialog

JasonBessert — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 22:37:58 GMT

I would like to challenge ESRI to enhance the Locate dialog to have search criteria and parameters maintained between sessions. Meaning, the type of search, in terms of what layer and attribute field the search is directed to is a configuration that can be saved to the project file. Our organization at times manages project files with a large amount of layers in the table of contents. It would be a huge advantage to the user to not have to re-specify a layer and attribute field, as well as whether or not the search is set to “match exact” or “match any part”. Based on how many times a project file has to be saved, closed, or shut down due to crash, it is somewhat cumbersome at times to have to re-enter those parameters every time a search must take place. Is it possible this can be in the development plan with future releases? I'm also of the mind that in the Locate dialog, Layer Search should be the default instead of Locate, which is based on address locations, but that's just me.

Re: Keep search parameters and criteria maintained between pro sessions in the Locate Dialog

PatrickAllen3 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:22:31 GMT

Our organization has posted this idea a couple times. The search options even for match exact does not work. We have to set the new search parameters each time we open our job files, hopefully this gets resolved.

Tools need to stay at a user's default instead of the programs default after each use. Falls in line with this post suggestion.

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

BernardoBarrientos — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:40:54 GMT

I think It would also be great if Layer Search could be kept as a default or if Pro would remember that choice.

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

GISaaS — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:14:04 GMT

Maybe a toggle to 'remember' the last setting within the dialog would do the trick?

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

ras451 — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:35:34 GMT

For our organization, we rely on the layer search and since we are moving end users to Pro, being able to default the settings of the locate tool to "Layer Search" and then default the layer before we set up their projects would be tremendously helpful. Being able to default the setting in the locate tool would help in commands for creating tasks as well.

Set custom search (locate) settings by project

AmyRoust — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:54:57 GMT

I have a Pro project that I use exclusively to digitize zoning ordinances. Many times, the legal description references a plat, so I use the Locate tool > Layer Search to find the plat by name. Every time I open that project, I have to open the Locate tool, switch to Layer Search, and change the settings to Search in layer > Plat and change Match exact to Match any part. It would be nice if there were a way to save those settings to that project so that I didn't have to redo it every time.

Re: Set custom search (locate) settings by project

ScottFedak2085 — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:19:59 GMT

Couldn't you create a locator based on that layer and using a Parcel Role? A "Parcel Name" is the only required field to map for a Parcel Role and you could just map the Plat Name. You would want to manually or automate the re-build of this locator on occasion to ensure that the data is up-to-date date, but you could add more data / roles and tweak settings to make it more robust for you search purposes on this project. It would also provide the added benefit of being able to be easily moved between projects while providing a consistent user experience.

Re: Set Preferences for Locate Tool

ShanaBritt — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:24:08 GMT

@BernardoBarrientos @JasonBessert The Locate button is a split button that will allow you to click and select Layer Search and it will open the Locate pane to Layer Search.

Using the configured layer search is the best option to maintain the field search settings between sessions of ArcGIS Pro. If the fields you want search are indexed and you configure a layer or table for Locate those fields will be automatically set to a search mode. If it's a number field it will be set to exact. Configured layers are also maintained when the map is published as a web map and those layers can be used for searching in the MapViewer along with any locator that is set as a utility service in your organization or Enterprise portal.